Maharashtra rains money on government employees and contractual staff before dry days of poll code set in

MUMBAI: The state government rolled out hikes and incentives for government employees and contractual staff like police kotwals and home guards on Monday.

The cabinet decisions came ahead of the assembly election expected in November.

The cabinet cleared a 10% increase in the honorarium given to police kotwals. Gram rozgar sevaks will now get Rs 8,000 honorarium and an incentive subsidy.

The gratuity limit for state govt employees on retirement and ex gratia payment on death was increased from Rs 14 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

The state govt nearly doubled the duty allowance of the around 40,000 home guards in the state to Rs 1,083 per day from Rs 570.

"Apart from this, dearness allowance is Rs 200, exercise allowance is Rs 180, pocket allowance is Rs 100, and food allowance is Rs 250. An expenditure of about Rs 795 crore was approved for this," an official said.

The state govt also announced the creation of 4,860 special posts of teachers in the state.

"It was also approved to implement a compassionate grounds policy for kotwals. Twelve thousand seven hundered and ninety three kotwals in the state will get the benefit of this. In case of death while in service, or incapacitation due to serious illness or accident, their kin will be eligible for compassionate grounds appointment," an official.

The incentive subsidy for gram rozgar sevaks will be depend on the number of days they have notched up. "Gram rozgar sevaks who have completed more than 2,000 days of work at the village level will be given an incentive subsidy of 1% of the labour cost. Gram rozgar sevaks who have worked up to 2,000 days will be given Rs 1,000 per month, and gram rozgar sevaks who have worked more than 2,000 days will get Rs 2,000 travel allowance and subsidy," an official said.

The decision to increase the limit of retirement gratuity and death gratuity to pensioners and family pensioners will be implemented from Sept. "This decision will be applicable to pensioners of recognised and grant-aided educational institutions, non-agricultural universities and their associated non-government colleges, and agricultural universities who have pension schemes," an official said.

A decision was taken to waive a day's technical break for the temporary or contractual govt employees, though there will be no benefit of in-service assured promotion scheme. "One day's technical break will be waived for service and retirement benefits, which they have to take after every 11 months," an official said.

It was decided to give a one-time pension option to zilla parishad employees. "This will now apply to 10,693 zilla parishad employees," an official said.